Odisha: Former MLA quits Congress, cites personal reasons

Bhawanipatna: In a jolt to Congress in Odisha, former MLA from Bhawanipatna assembly constituency, Dushmant Naik, today resigned from the party.

The ex-lawmaker has sent his resignation letter to Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Niranjan Patnaik, citing ‘personal reasons’ behind the decision, sources said.

Whether Naik’s resignation letter has been accepted or not is yet to be known.

“I am resigning from the party (Congress) due to my personal reasons,” said Naik, adding his supporters had been suggesting him to join the BJD for a while now.

When asked whether he is joining BJD soon, the former lawmaker said “nothing has been decided yet”.

Earlier, the former MLA had alleged that he was neglected and humiliated by some senior leaders in the party. He had even said that he was unhappy over party affairs.

Sources said, Naik, who was a staunch supporter of Lulu Mohapatra, has reportedly been sidelined after the demise of Mohapatra.

Speculations were rife all over the constituency that Naik may join BJD.

He was elected to the State Assembly from Bhawanipatna constituency on a Congress ticket in 2014.